Sylvia Kibet just edged out her Kenyan compatriot Paskalia Kipkoech after a thrilling duel over the final kilometre to win the 2013 Carrera de la Mujer in Bogota, Colombia, on Sunday (29).Both women were given the same time of 42:11 over the 12km course of the IAAF Gold Label Road Race, with the event being held at an energy-draining 2625m of altitude; the Colombian capital being higher than even Nairobi or Addis Ababa.The Peruvian pair of Gladys Tejeda, the winner of the Mexico City Marathon in 2:37:34 just five weeks ago, and Judith Toribio caused a mild surprise beating a number of better-known runners and coming home third and fourth in 42:26 and 43:07 respectively. The race started at a moderate pace with just 3:25 for the first kilometre on a slightly cloudy day but a leading group soon started to establish itself. &nbsp;By 25 minutes of racing around the 4km loop in the Colombian capital’s Parque Simón Bolívar, Tejeda – who had been doing the majority of the work at the front of the leading group – was accompanied by Kibet, Kipkoech and Ethiopia’s Hiwot Ayalew, while Toribio and Mexico’s Madai Perez began to struggle with the pace and drifted off the back and away from the leading quartet.Tejeda kept trying to increase the pace in a bid to break away and succeeded in dropping Ayalew, the 2013 IAAF World Cross Country Championships silver medallist eventually finishing a disappointing fifth having been a late arrival in Bogota and perhaps jet-lagged from her long trip. &nbsp;However, the two Kenyans couldn’t be shaken off and looked comfortable chasing Tejeda until about halfway around the last of the three circuits, when they moved away from the 27-year-old Tejeda with two kilometres to go.Kibet's kick clinches the 'Carrera' Aware of Kibet’s track talents, having won two World silver medals over 5000m, Kipkoech pushed hard and entered the final kilometre in front, clearly trying to take the sting out of her compatriot’s sprint, but with 300m to go the latter went into the lead for the first time in the race and it proved to be the decisive attack.“The level of the race was very high. It was a very difficult victory for me because of the altitude and the quality of the rivals. I hope to be back in 2014 to defend my title,” reflected the 29-year-old Kibet.Colombia’s Carolina Tabares, the 2013 South American 5000m champion, was the best local runner and finished eighth. Ethiopia’s Belaynesh Oljira, third at the IAAF World Cross Country Championships in Bydgoszcz and the winner of the bronze medal over 10,000m at the IAAF World Championships in Moscow last month, was a late withdrawal after being diagnosed with typhoid fever just prior to her departure for Bogota.More than 17,000 runners participated in a variety of races for all age groups at distances from 2km to 12km. Part of the revenue generated by the race has been dedicated to supporting women’s health campaigns, such as Liga Colombiana Contra el Cáncer, an organisation that fights cancer among women.Eduardo Biscayart for the IAAF

Sylvia Kibet's sprint finish helps her triumphs at Bogota’s Carrera de la Mujer

Kibet's sprint finish helps her triumph at Bogota’s Carrera de la Mujer

Ethiopia’s Belaynesh Oljira heads a strong field of runners for the seventh edition of the Carrera de la Mujer de Bogotá (Bogota’s Women’s race), an IAAF Gold Label Road Race, on Sunday (29).The 12km race is solely for women and will take place over a 4km loop in the Colombian capital’s Parque Simón Bolívar.Part of the revenue will be dedicated to support campaigns, such as Liga Colombiana Contra el Cáncer, an organisation that fights cancer among women. Around 17,000 runners are expected to take part of the events, which include races from 2km to 12km for various age groups.Oljira, 23, comes to Bogota after the best year of her career. She finished third at the IAAF World Cross Country Championships in Bydgoszcz back in March and earned a bronze medal over 10,000m at the IAAF World Championships in Moscow last month. She has run 30:31.44 over 25 laps of the track to stand fourth in the world on time this year. Oljira also set a personal best at the Marathon with her 2:25:01 time in Dubai at the start of the year.The 2625m altitude of Bogata will be one of Oljira’s main challenges. Besides that geographical factor, the Ethiopian runner will face rivals including her compatriots Zemzem Ahmed and Hiwot Ayalew, the USA’s Janet Bawcom, Poland’s Karolina Jarzynska, Morocco’s Malika Asahssah, Mexico’s Madai Perez, and the Kenyan pair of Paskalia Kipkoech and Sylvia Kibet.Ahmed, 28, was seventh at the 2008 Olympic Games in the 3000m Steeplechase and won over the barriers at the African Championships that year but is now concentrating on road racing. Ayalew, 23, is a talented performer on all surfaces. She was second at the World Cross Country Championships this year and placed fourth at the 2013 World Championships in the 3000m Steeplechase. On the roads she registered a second place in the New Orleans 10km with a 32:05 personal best and had a victory at the famous Cooper River Bridge Run in Charleston.Bawcom, now 35, was 12th at&nbsp;the London 2012 Olympic Games. Her best performance of the season was her victory at the US 15km National Championships with 49:44.Jarzynska, 32, is also enjoying a good campaign. She was 15th in the 10,000m in Moscow and set a 31:43.51 national record in Ostrava. She also set a 2:26:45 personal best when winning the Lodz Marathon in April.The 30-year-old Asahssah can look back on a victory in Ottawa’s famous 10km race in May and ran her 69:11 Half-marathon personal best in the Rome-Ostia race in March.Perez comes to Bogota in a positive mood after her seventh place in the Marathon at the World Championships and, coincidently, she also placed seventh at the Boston Marathon.Kipkoech, 24, was the silver medallist at the 2012 IAAF World Half Marathon Championships and has plenty of experience in South America, where she achieved her personal bests over 10km (30:57 at Santos, Brazil, on 20 May 2012) and Half-marathon (67:17 at Rio de Janeiro on 19 August 2012). Kibet, 29, will bring to Bogota her illustrious pedigree of two 5000m silver medals at the 2009 and 2011 World Championships. Erika Abril, Carolina Tabares, Yolanda Fernandez and Angela Figueroa will head the Colombian challenge. Abril is the Marathon national record holder while Tabares is the 2013 South American 5000m champion. Fernandez has been the best Colombian runner at the past two editions of this race and Figueroa is the 3000m Steeplechase national record holder. Eduardo Biscayart for the IAAF

Belaynesh Oljira leads strong field at Bogota’s Carrera de la Mujer

Newcastle, UKTirunesh Dibaba made an immediate impact in her Half Marathon debut with a victory in Sunday’s Bupa Great North Run. The 26-year-old Olympic 10,000m champion won the race in 1:07:35, the seventh fastest time this year. But more importantly it was one of the fastest Half Marathon debuts ever. For the Ethiopian this was a major step towards a road running career in the Marathon. Dibaba defeated the marathon World champion Edna Kiplagat (Kenya/1:07:41) and the Olympic Champion at the classic distance Tiki Gelana (Ethiopia/1:07:48), who both ran personal bests as well. The Olympic Marathon bronze medallist Wilson Kipsang of Kenya took the men’s race in 59:06, the fifth fastest this year. Kipsang just edged out Kenyan Micah Kogo (59:07) while Imane Merga of Ethiopia was third with 59:56. About 40,000 runners started this IAAF Gold Label Road Race, which was run in fine weather conditions. Men’s Race - great battle between Kipsang and Kogo A fast race developed when five runners pulled away from the field early on: former world 10km record holder Kogo and fellow-Kenyan Emmanuel Bett worked at the front with Mike Kigen (Kenya), Merga and Kipsang following. Kipsang, the reigning London and Frankfurt Marathon champion, sat back at the back of the pack for most of the first half. Just five weeks after the Olympic Marathon he chose a more careful approach. &quot;I felt fine after the first half today,&quot; he said. The lead group passed the 10km mark in 28:02. At that time they were still on pace for the course record established by last year’s winner Martin Mathathi (Kenya/58:56). It was then after around 12 kilometres, when Kogo and Kipsang surged ahead and left the others well behind. Forcing the pace the two Kenyans opened a significant gap. However Kogo and Kipsang could not quite keep up the pace. Between 15 (41:51) and 20 (56:10) kilometres they lost a couple of seconds, putting the course record out of reach. But instead a fascinating finish developed. First it was Kipsang surging ahead when the road dropped steeply towards the long finishing straight next to the North Sea. However there was still one mile to go. &quot;I knew the straight was very long, so I was not worried,&quot; said Kogo, who was fourth with 1:00:03 here a year ago. Kogo took the lead and with 100 metres to go carrying a two-metre lead, he looked to be the winner. But somehow Kipsang managed to find another gear when there was no more than 50 metres to run. &quot;I was trying to run faster and faster because I knew Wilson was still behind me,&quot; said Kogo. &quot;The gap was not too big so I said to myself, &#39;hang on and give everything, it is still possible to win,’&quot; said Kipsang, who clocked the third fastest winning time in race history. &quot;I recovered well after the London Olympic race because it was not such a fast Marathon. Maybe I will now run another Marathon this autumn.&quot; Merga ran a great debut with a time of 59:56 for third while Kenyans Kigen (1:00:18) and Bett (1:00:56) followed in fourth and fifth. Britain’s Chris Thompson had a fine race, finishing sixth with a personal best of 1:01:00. Women’s race: patient Dibaba waits until the final &#39;two laps’ Dibaba partly owes her very good time to Jelena Prokopcuka. It was the 35-year-old Latvian who surprisingly took the lead early on, setting the pace to well beyond the 15km mark. Behind Prokopcuka were Edna Kiplagat, Tiki Gelana and Dibaba passing the point in 48:33. It was around the 17km mark when Prokopcuka could no longer hold on that Kiplagat started pushing the pace. While Gelana was almost running next to the Kenyan Dibaba stayed a metre or two behind them. It was still the same constellation, when the trio made the last turn onto the long finishing straight. Dibaba then moved ahead with 800 metres to go. But Gelana and Kiplagat held on. 200 metres further down the Olympic marathon champion dropped back a little. But it was not until the final 400 metres – the last lap on the track so familiar for Dibaba from her great victories – when the Ethiopian finally opened a gap on Kiplagat, who did extremely well considering that this race came only six weeks after the Olympic marathon. Following Dibaba (1:07:35) were Kiplagat (1:07:41), Gelana (1:07:48) and Prokopcuka (1:08:09) rounding out the first four. Britain’s Jo Pavey, who had been in the leading group for the first 10km, also finished inside 70 minutes, taking fifth in 1:09:20. &quot;I had not specially prepared for this race,&quot; said Olympic winner Gelana. &quot;So this was a good result for me because I ran a personal best. Her expectations of Dibaba as a marathoner? &quot;Tirunesh will be a great marathon runner. She may even break the World record one day.&quot; &quot;I was running careful, because this was my first race at this distance. So I waited until in the last mile before I went ahead,&quot; Dibaba said. &quot;I expected to win today. And this race really helps me regarding my next step to the marathon.&quot; However she has not yet decided where and when she will run her debut. &quot;I plan to run a Marathon next year. But I don’t know if it will be in spring or in autumn.&quot; But after a successful Half Marathon debut Dibaba knows what she will be aiming for when she will run her next race at this distance. &quot;If I will run on a fast course I want to break the world record!&quot; That mark is currently held by Kenyan Mary Keitany with 1:05:50. J&#246;rg Wenig for the IAAF

Tirunesh Dibaba made an immediate impact in her Half Marathon debut with a victory in Sunday’s Bupa Great North Run.

Dibaba and Kipsang take Great North Run victories - REPORT

Ahmet Arslan and Valentina Belotti were victorious in La Montee du Grand Ballon, the first race in the 2012 WMRA Grand Prix, on Thursday (17). On race day the skies were a brilliant blue with temperatures hovering around 15 degrees C. at the men’s 3:00 p.m. start time in Willer Sur Thur, and around 10 C. near the 1424-metre summit of Grand Ballon. A much different weather pattern than the previous day when temperatures were just above freezing at the summit and a fresh dusting of snow blanketed the trail. Arslan, 26, last year’s WMRA Grand Prix champion, bested second-place finisher Gabriele Abate, 33, Italy, by just two seconds for the championship at La Montee du Grand Ballon. Arslan, from Turkey, finished the 13.5km course in 59:28 to Abate’s 59:30. Said Arslan at the prize-giving ceremony, "The course is very good. With 1200 metres (of elevation), there was a lot of downhill too. My specialty is uphill, but I’m a mountain runner so I must run both up and down." Arslan led most of the way and even put some distance on eventual second-place finisher Abate, after 12 kilometres, but Abate chewed up some time in the final 500 metres of downhill. "I know the Italians are very strong. I think I must run controlled at the start. The first 6 kilometres was very fast, but for me it is ok today." Italian Alex Baldaccini, 24, finished in third with a time of 1:01:12. Arslan was recently training in Africa. "I was in Ethiopia for training camp for three months. There were Ethiopian and Turkish runners. No racing, just training." The next major race for Arslan will be the European Championships to be held in his home country in the town of Denizli on 7 July. Belotti, 32, Italy, was the women’s champion with a time of 45:50, nearly four minutes faster than runner-up Emma Clayton, 24, Great Britain, timed in 49:11. The women and junior men ran a slightly shorter course of 8.5 kilometres with 832 metres of vertical gain. Third place women’s finisher was another runner from the UK, Sarah Tunstall, 26, in a time of 49:42. The winning junior was 19-year-old Jean Favre, France, with a time of 53:07. Runners from 13 countries participated in the event with 317 finishers in the men’s race, 54 in the women’s race and three finishers in the junior men’s division. The women and juniors’ race start preceded the men’s start by 15 minutes. The organization was very good in the first 2012 WMRA Grand Prix at Grand Ballon under lot of profiles, specially technical aspects. Podium runners from previous world championships took the top honours with Arslan and Belotti being crowned champions. WMRA Treasurer Nancy Hobbs, and WMRA Council members Wolfgang Munzel and Tomo Sarf were present at the event. The next event in the five-race WMRA Grand Prix series is the 14th Gorski tek na Grintovec in Kamnik, Slovenia, on 29 July. Nancy Hobbs (organisers) for the IAAF

Ahmet Arslan and Valentina Belotti were victorious in La Montee du Grand Ballon, the first race in the 2012 WMRA Grand Prix, on Thursday (17).

Arslan and Belotti triumph at WMRA kick-off in Willer Sur Thur

<DIV>Paris, FranceRunning in rainy and chilly conditions, John Mwangangi and Sarah Chepchirchir of Kenya took top honors at the 33rd edition of the 20 Kilomètres de Paris, an IAAF Bronze Label Road Race. Mwangangi made a point to defend his 2010 title by taking the lead from the start at the Eiffel Tour. The slippery pavement on the Pont de Iéna forced the runners to make a cautious start as the first kilometre was covered in a slow 3:15. Mwangangi, progressively accelerating in the Bois de Boulogne, was closely followed by Eritrean Samson Kiflemarian and his Kenyan teammates Isaiah Ondieki and Geoffrey Kenesi, all part of a lead group of eight. As the rain had almost stopped, the leader reached the half way in 29:19 after having covered the previous two kilometres at 2:49 pace in the uphill portion. This tremendous effort opened a 10-metre gap over his rivals and inflicted serious damage to the group. Surprisingly, Moroccans Mustapha El Aziz and Hicham Adibab were still in contention as well as the two last minute entrants, Ethiopians Maco Gishu Dida and Woldemikael Feyisa Bekele. At 12 kilometres, just as last year, Mwangangi injected a decisive acceleration on the Quais de Seine. While passing the Louvre Museum, Mwangangi’s advance was now some 30 metres over the two Moroccans and Bekele, with Dida and Kenesi about 20 metres behind. If there was no doubt about the winner, the battle for the second place was intense, as Bekele and El Aziz multiplied the attacks around the 17th kilometre for the U-turn back towards the Eiffel Tour. Never looking back, Mwangangi, 21 (born 1 November 1990) successfully defended his title in 58:14. “And I hope to come back next year in order to take a third victory, I’m very happy and I’m already set to come back here!” warned the 1.57m/50kg winner, before explaining his race. “Today I had the impression that I was stronger than last year. The difference is that this time the race started slower so I had to push hard at the 10km in order to be in position to win again.” The African Cross Country champion will now come back to his Kenyan home in Machakos in order to prepare his next race, a Half-Marathon in Valencia in two weeks time. Rose Chelimo, winner in 2010 like Mwangangi, couldn’t impose the same tactics as Mirriam Wangari, triple winner in Paris (2007-2008-2009) took the lead. The other Kenyans Sarah Chepchirchir (2nd in 2009), Cynthia Cherotich (winner of Tours’ 20km) and Lucy Macharia (winner of Marcq en Baroeul) were all in the pack and all credible contenders for the victory. As the half way was reached in 33:25, it was acknowledged that Wangari’s race record of 1:05:30 was safe. After having passed the Hippodrome d’Auteil, Chepchirchir injected a painful acceleration in the long slope along Seine River, and neither Wangari nor Chelimo could respond. Chelimo tried in vain to reduce the gap and at the 17th kilometre, it was Wangari’s turn to make an unsuccessful attempt to join the leader. Chepchirchir eventually won in 1:06:06, nine seconds over Wangari and 17 seconds over Chelimo. After the Kenyan women collectively celebrated their triumph, Chepchirchir gave her feelings on her performance. “Today the weather made the race difficult, so I tried to give my best to win.” Wangari, missing a record fourth victory in Paris, was nevertheless happy and explained in good French the Kenyan plan: “We started all together at a gentle pace and progressively accelerate at the 8th kilometre before speeding up at the 11th, so that the girls were eliminated one per one.” A brilliant strategy that paid off well for the Kenyans today. Pierre Jean Vazel for the IAAF Leading Results: MEN -1. John Nzau Mwangangi (KEN) 58:142. Woldemikael Feyisa Bekele (ETH) 58:223. Mustapha El Aziz (MAR) 58:25 WOMEN -1. Sarah Chepchirir (KEN) 1:06:062. Mirriam Wangari (KEN) 1:06:153. Rose Chelimo (KEN) 1:06:23</DIV>

Paris, France – Running in rainy and chilly conditions, John Mwangangi and Sarah Chepchirchir of Kenya took top honors at the 33rd edition of the 20 Kilomètres de Paris, an IAAF Bronze Label Road Race.

Mwangangi and Chepchirchir triumph in Paris 20Km

<div>Berlin, Germany - The 38th BMW Berlin Marathon lived up to all expectations, with the seventh World record in 13 years, this time for defending champion Patrick Makau of Kenya, who first broke Haile Gebreselassie, then took the Ethiopian legend’s World record from him, with 2:03:38*. Such was the damage done behind him when Makau streaked away after 27 kilometres, that one of the pacemakers, also a Kenyan, Stephen Chemlany hung in and finished second, in 2:07:55; with another Kenyan, Edwin Kimaiyo third in 2:09:50 at this IAAF Gold Label Road Race. Gebrselassie, who stopped in discomfort when Makau surged away, recommenced and briefly reclaimed second place, but eventually dropped out at the 35 kilometre point. There was another Kenyan success in the women’s race. Florence Kiplagat, the 2009 World Cross Country champion, who had dropped out of her only previous Marathon, in Boston in April, was never headed. &nbsp; World record holder, Paul Radcliffe, returning from childbirth and a barren two years competitively, stayed with Kiplagat for 12 kilometres, before gradually dropping away. Kiplagat won by almost as big a margin as Makau, with her 2:19:44. Radliffe was passed by the steady starting local hero, Irina Mikitenko at 33 kilometers, and the German went on the take second, in 2:22:18, with Radcliffe a creditable third in 2:23:46. Makau makes the break in 27th kilometre - Men's race The men’s race was forecast to be a duel between the elder statesman Gebrselassie, aged 38, and the young pretender, 26 year old Makau; so it turned out, briefly, but not before an intriguing prelude to halfway and beyond, when the pair were led by half a dozen (Kenyan) pacemakers, and accompanied by Kimaiyo, John Kyui and Emmanuel Samal, also all Kenyan. Setting out with the intention to pass halfway in 62 minutes, the group prepared the path for Makau’s eventual double triumph by going through the ‘half’ in 61:44. Gebrselassie was always at the head of the group in the lee of the pacers throughout this early stage. He only began to concede the ‘lead’ between 24 and 25 kilometres, and that proved to be a sign of things to come. At 26 kilometres, Makau decided he’d had enough of the procession. His initial acceleration dropped his trio of colleagues- Kyui, Kimaiyo and Samal – and then he got to work on Gebrselassie. Makau spurted past the pacemakers, and began weaving across to the road, in an obvious attempt to unsettle the Ethiopian master. It worked almost immediately. Barely 200 metres later, Gebrselassie dropped back, veered to the right side of the road, and stopped. He was joined by race director, Mark Milde, following on his customary bicycle. While Makau continued his relentless assault on Gebrselassie’s record, the man himself was bent double, shaking his hand to indicate breathing difficulties. However, within a minute, he straightened up, and began pursuit. Makau was gone, but the Ethiopian successfully passed Kimaiyo, and went back into second place. But he was running on borrowed time. Though still second at 35 kilometers, he dropped out shortly afterwards. The measure of how difficult it would have been to combat Makau is that the Kenyan ran his second half in 61:54, that’s to say, just ten seconds slower than the group had run the first half. It was an extraordinary demonstration of his strength and talent. Added to which, he finished with a flourish. Heading towards the parallel women’s finish, he had to jump a temporary kerb, separating it from the men’s finish, before he grabbed the finish tape in exultation, having shattered Gebrselassie’s previous world record of 2:03:59, set here in 2008, by 21 seconds. Of the moves which disposed so successfully of Gebrselassie, he said afterwards, “It is one of my tactics. I did some zig-zags, to confuse him. I had a lot of energy, and wanted to tire him. He was trying to use me, to maintain the pace, and I wanted to run alone, either behind him or to the side, so I did a zig-zag to one side and he followed, I did it to the other side, and the next time, I couldn’t see him." “This (World record) is very special for the Kenyans, especially beating the Ethiopians. Everyone in Kenya will be happy for me. My manager is getting a lot of calls from Kenya, and I hear there were lots of people watching TV in bars, and breaking bottles when they saw the World record.” Temperatures rose from a perfect 10C at the start to around 16C by the men’s finish, but Makau indicated that the bright sunlight in his face made it seem hotter, and said he thought he (and others) could go even faster. “I only had a pacemaker until 32k, so I had to do the last 10k alone. I think if someone was with me, I can run faster, but I think someone else can run faster also." “But I knew at 32k that I could win and break the world record, even though I had to do the last part by myself. Today was my day.” There was no gainsaying that, nor that this should make him an early choice for the Kenyan squad for London 2012. It also helped put another nail in Ethiopian aspirations to distance running domination. At Friday’s press conference, Gebrselassie had talked about the relative demise of his compatriots at the recent World championships, in contrast to the Kenyan successes. “We are going to have to work harder,” said Gebrselassie. Well, that task is even more demanding now, following this Kenyan double-header, with the added zest of Makau’s World record. Kiplagat: 'I'm a marathoner now' - Women's race For a first-time Marathon finish, Kiplagat’s performance was equally laudable. The way she headed the field from the start contradicted her assertion at the post-race press conference that she had only hoped, “of finishing, and not winning”. By the time Radcliffe relented at 12 kilometers, admitting afterwards that she had started too fast in an attempt to match the 24-year-old Kenyan, it was only a matter of Kiplagat’s margin of victory. It turned out to be over two and a half minutes. A decade and more older than the Kenyan, Mikitenko and Radcliffe both opined that Kiplagat needed to prove herself in other marathons before she could consider herself a marathoner. They might have been hoping that she returns to the track and Cross Country, where she has enjoyed much success. But that’s not going to happen. Kiplagat said, “I have some problems wearing spikes (spiked running shoes), so I won’t be running on the track or doing cross country anymore. I’m a marathoner now.” And the latest addition to the elite sub-2.20 club. Mikitenko had plenty of reason to be overjoyed. She has had her share of injury problems in the last 24 months, since her second successive London Marathon victory. She had said she wanted to run 2:22 here, and set out accordingly calmly, letting Kiplagat and Radcliffe go. Her plan worked perfectly: she reeled Radcliffe in at around 34 kilometers, and finished in 2:22:18. “I’m really happy,” she said at the press conference. “After all the months of hard training, everything worked as well as I hoped. I can now look forward to London 2012.” Radcliffe was more circumspect. “I’m not particularly happy, either with my time or my place. I came here wanting to win; I didn’t really have a time in mind, although I thought I was in 2:22 shape. I probably went out too fast, and I had a bad patch &nbsp;between 37 and 38k." “I could see the Ethiopian (Habtamu, who finished fourth) coming back to me, and people were telling the gap was getting closer, ‘ten seconds, eight seconds, etc,’ . So I’m not particularly happy, but there are a lot of positives to take out of it. The foot I had operated on two and half years ago gave me no problems at all today. &nbsp;I need to race more, get back into racing mode.” Manager on Gebrselassie: 'It may be end of an era, but not end of his career' So, for time being, Radcliffe avoids the Wagnerian ultimatum, Twilight of the Idols, but what of Gebrselassie, after the second drop-out in his last two marathons? Uncharacteristically, he declined to attend the press conference, to explain his forfeit, but his manager Jos Hermens said that, while it may be, “the end of an era, of record breaking for Haile, it’s not the end of his career". “He had a breathing problem, like he had in London (in the past)," Hermens said. "It’s exercise-induced asthma. He has a ‘puffer’, but he hasn’t used it in ages, and he didn’t use it this morning. He’s back in the hotel now and he’s fine." “He needs to find a fast course now, to do 2:04, 2:05, and qualify for London (Olympics). We originally planned to run a fast time here, then go to Tokyo (Jan/Feb), but Tokyo is not a fast course. He might have to run Dubai (third week in January)." “He can still run 2:05, but maybe by then, others will be running 2:02. He’s has a great career, 20 years at the top, but age is eventually going to catch up. But it’s his dream to run in a fifth Olympics.” And if this is the endgame for Gebrselassie, Radcliffe, still the women’s World record was on hand to provide an epitaph. “Whatever happens,” said Radcliffe, “he’s the greatest male distance runner in history, taking track, cross country and road into consideration. And with the Olympics as well." “I don’t know how he does it. When you hear he employs 630 people, and has all that administration, as well as training. In contrast, I get up and get two kids off to school. It’s amazing what he’s done; I hope he doesn’t retire, but at some point you have to say, my body’s had enough.” Leading Results:MEN - 1. Patrick Makau, KEN &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; 2:03:38 WR*2. Stephen Kwelio Chemlany, KEN &nbsp;2:07:553. Emannuel Kimaiyo, KEN &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; 2:09:504. Felix Limo, KEN &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; 2:10:385. Scott Overall, GBR &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; 2:10:556. Ricardo Serrano, ESP &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; 2:13:327. Pedro Nimo, ESP &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; 2:13:348. Simon Munyutu, KEN &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; 2:14:209. Driss El Himer, FRA &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; 2:14:4610. Hendrick Ramaala, RSA &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; 2:16:00 WOMEN -1. Florence Kiplagat, KEN &nbsp;2:19:442. Irina Mikitenko, GER &nbsp; &nbsp; 2:22:183. Paula Radcliffe, GBR &nbsp; &nbsp; 2:23:464. Atsede Habtamu, ETH &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; 2:24:255. Tatyana Petrova, RUS &nbsp; &nbsp; 2:25:016. Anna Incerti, ITA &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; 2:25:327. Rosaria Console, ITA &nbsp; &nbsp; 2:26:108. Valeria Straneo, ITA &nbsp; &nbsp; 2:26:339. Eri Okubo, JPN &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; 2:28:4910. Miranda Boonstra, NED &nbsp; 2:29:23 * pending the usual ratification procedures Pat Butcher (organisers) for the IAAF </div>

The 38th BMW Berlin Marathon lived up to all expectations, with the seventh world record in 13 years, this time for defending champion Patrick Makau of Kenya, who first broke Haile Gebreselassie, then took the Ethiopian legend’s world record with 2:03:38.

Makau stuns with 2:03:38 marathon world record in Berlin

<DIV>Lisbon, PortugalTaking command from the start, World Half Marathon record holder Mary Keitany smashed her own race record at the Vodafone RTP Portugal Half-Marathon on Sunday (25) while Silas Sang won the men’s contest at this IAAF Gold Label Road Race. As predicted, Keitany returned to Lisbon to show her skills. The 29-year-old Kenyan, who broke the World record in Ras Al Khaimah in February, never faced serious opposition en route to her 1:07:54 performance to improved the race record that she established last year (1:08:50) by almost one minute! After the race, Keitany shared her delight to be back in Lisbon and to collect the win, “despite the weather not being very good” due to the morning’s rising temperatures. In fact, the 26 ºC and 60% of humidity was the runners’ strongest opponent, but didn’t break the goals of the elite athletes. Now Keitany, who won the London Marathon last April in 2:19:19 in just her second race over the distance, said her focus is now on her third Marathon experience, “in New York, where I will try to win”. Behind her, two other Kenyans pushed their pace to a maximum level but not enough to upset Keitany. Helena Kiprop, winner in this race in 2009 (1:10:26), crossed the line 1:03 after Keitany and Caroline Kilel, the winner of this year’s Boston Marathon in 2:22:36, rounded out the podium in 1:10:03. Ana Dulce Félix was the first Portuguese, finishing ninth (1:13:34), while Analia Rosa closed out the top-10 in 1:14:44. Third win for Sang Silas Sang, the race record holder, won for the third time in four appearances but it didn’t come without some drama. In the race’s early stages, Kenyan Silas Kipruto moved to the front to push a race record pace. By 12 kilometres he had built a gap of 28 seconds on the pursuing group. But he paid dearly for his audacity in the last five kilometres, as he slowed dramatically before crossing the finish line in 15th place almost walking. Knowing the course and running much more conservatively at the start, Sang didn’t make his move until after the 15th kilometre. “I noticed that the gap to Kipruto was smaller and at 16k I realised that I could win again and then I ran with conviction to victory,” said Sang. “I’m very happy to be here for the fourth time and win for the third. From 16th kilometre I began to narrow the distance to the front of the race and then went on." The podium was completed by Kenyans Lucas Rotich (1:01:38) and Benson Olanakery (1:02:19). Hermano Ferreira was the best Portuguese finishing seventh in (1:03:56), ahead of Luis Feiteira who was 10th (1:04:33). António Manuel Fernandes for the IAAF Leading Result:Men -1. Silas Sang KEN 1:01:132. Lucas Rotich KEN 1:01:383. Benson Olenakery KEN 1:02:194. Sammy Kigen KEN 1:02:315. Dickson Marwa TAN 1:03:106. Ezekiel Chebii KEN 1:03:217. Hermano Ferreira POR 1:03:568. Kiprono Menjo KEN 1:04:27 Women -1. Mary Keitany KEN 1:07:542. Helena Kiprop KEN 1:08:573. Caroline Kilel KEN 1:10:034. Rita Jeptoo KEN &nbsp;1:10:345. Desiree Davila USA 1:11:276. Magdalene Mukunzi KEN &nbsp;1:11:547. Salina Kosgei KEN 1:11:558. Hellen Kimutai KEN &nbsp;1:12:29

Lisbon, Portugal – Taking command from the start, World Half Marathon record holder Mary Keitany smashed her own race record at the Vodafone RTP Portugal Half-Marathon on Sunday while Sias Kipsang won the men’s contest at this IAAF Gold Label Road Race.

Keitany smashes race record in Lisbon

Benson Cherono, the 2006 winner of the Milano Marathon with his PB of 2:07:58, and John Komen, winner of the Venice Marathon last year, are the top names of the Turin Marathon Gran Premio La Stampa on Sunday 14 November. The 24th edition of the Turin Marathon, a IAAF Silver Label Road Race, will mark a major date change from past editions. A regular spring fixture, Sunday’s race will be the first edition to be run in the autumn. Men’s race Cherono also won in Los Angeles in 2006 with 2:08:40 and also boasts a third place showing from Boston in 2005, a fifth place in New York in 2004 and a third place in Venice in 2009. Komen took an impressive win last year in Venice setting a race record of 2:08:13 on the difficult course. There Komen ran a spectacular second-half by changing gear in the final 12 kilometres and running a negative split in the more challenging second half. Komen also won the Reims Marathon in 2008 in 2:08:06 and was ninth in the Paris Marathon in 2009. He knows Turin as he finished fourth in the Marathon in 2008 and the Turin Half Marathon in 2009 in 1:01:57. This year Komen finished tenth in the Boston Marathon in 2:11:48. The Italian challenge will be led by Italian top-runners Ruggero Pertile and Danilo Goffi. Pertile will run his second Marathon this year just three-and-a-half months after his solid fourth place at the European Championships in Barcelona in a race where he fought for the podium until the final kilometres. Pertile, who finished second at the last edition of the Turin Marathon in 2009 in 2:09:53, has just returned from Kenya where he trained with a group of top Kenyan runners including Samuel Wanjiru, James Kwambai and Wilson Kipsang. In his final test before Turin the runner from Padua finished third at the Arezzo International Half Marathon in 1:03:32. Goffi, a European silver medallist in Budapest 1998, will be looking to bounce back from his unlucky Venice Marathon race where he was forced to drop out at the 31 km. Goffi won the Turin Marathon in 2005 and finished second in 2002. Women’s race wide open The women’s race is expected to be wide-open. The favourites are Russian twin sisters Olesya and Yelena Nurgalieva who have career bests of 2:27:47 and 2:29:49, respectively. They emerged at the 2004 Frankfurt Marathon where Olesya beat Yelena by one second in 2:29:48. Olesya then improved her PB again in the same German city in 2008 by two minutes. Ethiopia will be represented by Fate Tola Geleto who clocked a PB of 2:28:58 this year in Rome. The Turin Marathon will set off from the Piazza Castello central square in the heart of the Piedmont city. The course will run across the neighbouring towns of Moncalieri, Nichelino, Orbassano, Rivalta, Rivoli and Collegno before returning to Piazza Castello. The programme also features a 6 Km Stratorino mass race and the 1 Km Junior Marathon for children. Diego Sampaolo for the IAAF

Benson Cherono, the 2006 winner of the Milano Marathon with his PB of 2:07:58, and John Komen, winner of the Venice Marathon last year, are the top names of the Turin Marathon Gran Premio La Stampa on Sunday 14 November.

Cherono vs Komen on tap in Turin – PREVIEW

Spurred on by a hometown crowd, 
local hero Vera Santos took the women’s title at the 19th Grande Premio 
Internacional en Marcha Atletica in Rio Maior, Portugal on Saturday (10). On 
the men’s side, Eric Tysse of Norway won this IAAF Race Walking Challenge 
meeting for the second time. Santos from the gunIn the women’s 20Km, Santos, the fifth place finisher at last year’s World Championships, was at the front throughout. In the first 10 kilometres she had China’s Yanfei Li (1:28:57, PB), the 2008 World junior bronze medallist, and German’s and German Melanie Seeger (1:28:17 PB) for company. After 12 kilometres, only the Chinese remained in contention, and soon thereafter, Santos walked on alone. Struggling with the end in the waning stages of the race, Santos clocked 1:29:16. “This was great winning here,” said Santos, who was third in the 2008 Race Walking Cup. “I’m feeling in good shape, I felt this was my day and I forced the pace to the finish. I felt that I’m not so good in the final sprint, but I had some good signals after the Portuguese championship.” Santos is now focusing on the IAAF World Race Walking Cup in Chihuahua, Mexico, on 15-16 May. “I will start a period of preparation at altitude, in Sierra Nevada, just to prepare for it, and I will compete in Italy (Sesto San Giovanni, 1 May). I’m hoping that João Vieira, who was absent today because an injury, can be with me at the World Cup.” Behind Santos, Seeger made a good recovery and forced the pace to finish second in 1:30:11, just ahead of Spaniard Julia Takacs who improved her personal best by 22 seconds, clocking 1:30:20. Yanfei Li struggled in the late stages, and finished fourth, 33 seconds behind Takacs. Portuguese Ana Cabecinha, who was eighth at the 2008 Olympic Games and a former European junior bronze medalist, was fifth in 1.31.14, with Beatriz Pascual (1:31:41). Sixth. Tysse repeats In the men’s 20Km, the contest was clearly between Norwegian Erik Tysse and Frenchman Yohan Diniz, with Tysse, the winner here in 2008, prevailing. The Norwegian, who also finished third here twice, clocked 1:20:08 to the Frenchman’s 1:20:23. “This win was a first step towards achieving my main goal, the European Championship podium,” said Tysse, who was seventh at the World Championships over this distance last year. “I’m in good shape and I proved it today. I’m going now for a period of training at altitude, in the United States, Arizona, where the Portuguese Susana Feitor, Inês Henriques and Ana Cabecinha, will also train.” Tysse too is planning to compete at the next IAAF Race Walking challenge meeting in Sesto San Giovanni. Behind the leading pair, China’s Zhen Wang, who was sixth in Lugano earlier this season, clocked a personal best 1:20:42 to finish third, ahead of Luis Fernando Lopez of Colombia, the 2008 South American Champion, who clocked 1:21:17. Eder Sanchezof Mexico clocked 1:21:45 to finish fifth. Before the start of the competition, the organisers asked for a minute of silence to honor Polish president Lech Kaczynski who perished in a tragic plane crash on Saturday morning. Walker Grzegorz Sudol, of Poland, did not finish the race. António Manuel Fernandes for the IAAF Leading Results – Women: 1. Vera Santos POR 1.29.16 2. Melanie Seeger GER 1.30.11 3. Julia Takacs ESP 1.30.20 4. Yanfei Li CHN 1.30.53 5. Ana Cabecinha POR&nbsp; 1.31.14 6, Beatriz Pascual ESP 1.31.41 7. Inês Henriques POR&nbsp; 1.32.19 8. Kristina Saltanovic LTU 1.32.42 Men: 1. Erik Tysse NOR 1.20.08 2. Yohan Diniz FRA 1.20.23 3. Zhen Wang CHN 1.20.42 4. Luis Fernando Lopéz COL 1.21.17 5. Eder Sanchez MEX 1.21.45 6. Ding Chen CHN 1.21.59 7. Matej Toth SVK 1.22.04 8, Hyunsub Kim KOR 1.22.24

Spurred on by a hometown crowd, local hero Vera Santos took the women’s title at the 19th Grande Premio Internacional en Marcha Atletica in Rio Maior, Portugal on Saturday. On the men’s side, Eric Tysse of Norway won this Race Walking Challenge meeting for the second time.

Santos and Tysse take Rio Maior wins – IAAF Race Walking Challenge

Nairobi, KenyaIt’s a pity that track and field is in the off-season. Otherwise the world could have witnessed yet another 100 metres record that would make the current 9.58 seconds look like a hand-timed high school mark. By his own admission, Jamaican sprint king and World 100m and 200m record holder, Usain Bolt, is scared of wildlife. The 23-year old found himself face to face with his adversaries in his first tour of Africa that concluded on Tuesday when an irate elephant almost charged at his game drive truck at the Segera Ranch in Laikipia, central Kenya. Bolt, former World 110m Hurdles World record holder Colin Jackson and Jochen Zeitz, founder of the Zeitz Foundation and Puma chief executive, were in Kenya as part of the official launch of the Zeitz Foundation and “The Long Run” initiative to conserve the environment. During their four-day visit to Kenya and to Segera, one of the nine Long Run destinations, they experienced Kenya’s rich heritage and environment culminating in Bolt and Jackson being made honorary Maasi warriors, and Bolt given the name “Lloingwany” – meaning “warrior of warriors” – before he adopted a cub cheetah that was aptly named “Lightning Bolt.” With cheetahs clocking speeds of up to 112 kilometres-per-hour in the wild, Bolt had finally come up against formidable opposition! Segera is part of the global alliance of nine Long Run destinations around the world that are committed to become ecologically and socially responsible Global Ecosphere Retreats and to protect the integrity of local ecosystems and the cultures and people living within them. The Long Run initiative intends to provide and build sustainable, mostly tourism driven enterprises, community development and cultural stewardship. As the inaugural initiative by the Zeitz Foundation, The Long Run is a practical approach to a sustainable way of living and is endorsed by Bolt and Jackson, who both act as for the Zeitz Foundation in order to support its aims and spread its message. At Segera, Bolt and Jackson enjoyed a game drive that brought them close to groups of elephants and giraffes and dozens of zebra. “Seeing these animals in their natural environment is an amazing experience,” said Jackson. “The tranquillity of the place is something very special and it’s an honour to be a part of The Long Run to ensure that it is protected and continues to exist in this state.” Bolt ‘s tour drive party was confronted by a bull elephant which approached their tour truck. “It was really scary,” Bolt said. “I thought he wanted to charge at us but all he wanted was for us to back off.” “But the game drive was wonderful and I really enjoyed it. We will go for another one because I did not see any lions or leopards. I definitely hope to come back soon,” he said. Later on, in a ceremony with 12 local Maasai, the two athletes were made honorary Maasai morans, or “warriors”, and received the traditional Shuka dress and stick. Both proudly participated in the traditional dancing and chatted with the moran about their culture. A group of local school children joined them on Sunday to watch the movie “Home” at Segera Ranch. Jochen Zeitz, Founder of the Zeitz Foundation, said “It means a lot to me to see these children here at Segera and to introduce them to this wonderful movie from Yann-Arthus Bertrand. Its message is so important and we will continue to communicate it beyond today’s event.” On Monday this week, Bolt, Jackson and Zeitz had an audience with Kenya’s President Mwai Kibaki and senior ministers, who warmly welcomed the party to Kenya and encouraged them to enjoy the wonderful sights and wildlife that Kenya has to offer. At a ceremony attended by Prime Minister Raila Odinga, Bolt fittingly adopted a cheetah, the fastest animal on land, and Jackson adopted an eland antelope. At the ceremony, Zeitz was also made an Honorary Warden of Kenya and a Trustee of the Kenya Wildlife Service Endowment Fund. A game drive in Nairobi National Park concluded the day. Jackson commented, “It has been an impressive trip. I have been to other African countries but I have never seen so many elephants. My only regret is that it has been too short, and I am certain I will be back soon.” Elias Makori and the Zeitz Foundation for the IAAF

It’s a pity that track and field is in the off-season. Otherwise the world could have witnessed yet another 100 metres record that would make the current 9.58 seconds look like a hand-timed high school mark.

Bolt on Kenyan tour: World’s fastest man adopts world’s fastest animal

John Komen won the 24th edition of the Venice Marathon today (25) breaking the course record with 2:08:13, thanks to an outstanding second half in which he ran a negative split on a very difficult section of the course. Anne Kosgei won the women’s race in her new PB of 2:27:46.
The Venice Marathon is an IAAF Silver Label Road Race.
Men
Two Kenyan pacemakers William Taragon and Jackson Kirwa led an eleven-men group who formed the leading pack. They went through 15km in 45:44 and 21km in 1:04:32 at an average of 3:02-3:03 for each kilometre. 
Seven men were in the lead at the 28km mark when they crossed the Parco di San Giuliano, a vast green park area located near the headquarters of the Venice Marathon.
After clocking two kilometre splits in 3:02 and 3:03 at 29km and 30km, six men (Jackson Kirwa, Jonathan Kibet, John Komen, Paul Samoei, Alexander Kuzin and Benson Cherono) remained in contention. Ben Chebet, winner at the Padua Marathon last April in 2:09:41, dropped out of the race inside the Parco San Giuliano at 30 km. 
At the start of the famous Ponte della Libertà (Bridge of Freedom) at 34km which links Mestre with Venice, Komen and Samoei broke away from Cherono, and Kuzin. 
Komen and Samoei battled it out for a couple of kilometres until Komen managed to pull away at 35km when he injected a fierce change of pace which proved to be decisive. 
Despite his big effort in the 7km split between the 32 and the 39km Komen still looked fresh in the final 3km when he entered in Venice to face the famous 14 bridges which have made the Venice Marathon famous all over the world. 
Komen had increased his lead over Samoei to 50 seconds by 39km which he passed in 1:59:28. His winning time of 2:08:13 is very good considering that the leading pack was keeping a 2:09-2:10 pace until the 30 km when Komen changed gear in the final 12 kilometres (he clocked a negative split of 1:03:41 in the second half) at an average of 3:00 minutes for each kilometre.
&nbsp;“I won my first marathon and I set my PB. The second half of the race was very tough because of the bridges. I felt the section of the course across the Bridge of Freedom was demanding,” said Komen.
Paul Samoei in second set his PB with 2:10:09 lowering his previous lifetime best by 1:28. Benson Cherono, past winner in Beijing in 2005, Los Angeles and Milan in 2006, completed the Kenyan clean sweep clocking 2:10:19. Oleksander Kuzin from the Ukraine, the fastest man in the field with his career best of 2:07:33 set in Linz in 2007, was the best European with 2:10:54. 
Komen won the Reims Marathon in 2:08:06 in 2008 and finished ninth at the Paris Marathon in 2009.&nbsp; Before Venice he won the Turin Half Marathon by two seconds in 1:01:57 at the end of September. Komen, who was born in 2007, played football and began running seriously in 2007 under the guidance of Gabriele Nicola, a young coach from Turin who trains a group of Kenyan runners in Iten. 
 Women
The women’s race started a few minutes before the men’s from Strà on the banks of the Brenta River. After a conservative start (3:35 in the first km), top Italian marathon runner Bruna Genovese, who is training for the Yokohama Marathon, acted as a pacemaker in the first part of the race in the leading group which was formed by the other pacemaker Florence Chepsoi Jepkosgei, Anne Kosgei, Lenah Cheruiyot (winner at the Venice Marathon in 2006 and 2007 and course record holder with 2:27:02 set in 2007), Italian Giovanna Volpato, Ethiopian Jelena Val Koren, Russian Yelena Sokolova, Margaret Toroitich from Kenya, Ana Dias from Portugal and Hakda Maji from Ethiopia. They went through the 5 km mark in 17:28. 
Cheruiyot stayed in the leading group at 15 km (52:24) and 21 km (1:13:46) but soon lost the ground at 25km due to knee problems and dropped out of the race. At this point (1:27:34) with Chepsoi accomplishing her pace-making duties with Anne Kosgei and Yelena Sokolova in attendence, Kosgei took the initiative.
Only the two Ethiopians Yal Koren and Haji Makda managed to keep up with Kosgei when the she increased the pace, and the race developed into a two women’s battle at 30km between Kosgei and Koren who went through this mark in 1:44:39. 
Kosgei and Yal Koren engaged a neck and neck battle on the Bridge of Freedom went through 35km in 2:01:58. 
But Kosgei was the stronger and changed gear in the final kilometres to carve out a gap of 40 seconds over Yal Koren. The Kenyan leader passed 41 km in 2:24 and crossed the finish-line in 2:27:46 to improve her previous PB of 2:28:27 set when second in Venice in 2007. Today was her first career marathon win.
&nbsp;“After three second places I managed to win this race at last. I thank the organizers for giving me another chance. The fact that I know this course made my job easier,” said Kosgei, who had finished second in Venice three times in 2002, 2007, 2008. 
Four women dipped under the 2:30 barrier. Yal Koren finished runner-up in 2:28:41 in her first ever marathon race beating Russian Alena Samokhyalova (2:28:47 improving her previous career best of 2:35). Harun Makdi Haji finished fourth in 2:29:56. 
Diego Sampaolo for the IAAF
Results &nbsp; Men 1 John Komen (Kenya)&nbsp;2:08:13 2 Paul Samoei (Kenya)&nbsp;2:10:09 3 Benson Cherono (Kenya)&nbsp;2:10:19 4 Alexander Kuzin (Ukraine) 2:10:54 5 Joseph Lomala (Kenya)&nbsp;2:11:44 6 Jonathan Kibet (Kenya)&nbsp;2:12:09
Women 1 Anne Kosgei (Kenya)&nbsp;2:27:46 2 Jelena Yal Koren (Ethiopia) 2:28:41 3 Alena Samokhyalova (Russia) 2:28:47 4 Makda Haji Harun (Ethiopia) 2:29:56 5 Ana Dias (Portugal) 2:30:12 6 Yelena Sokolova (Russia) 2:31:54 7 Margaret Toroitich (Kenya) 2:32:12 8 Giovanna Volpato (Italy) 2:32:15

- John Komen won the 24th edition of the Venice Marathon today (25) breaking the course record with 2:08:13, thanks to an outstanding second half in which he ran a negative split on a very difficult section of the course. Anne Kosgei won the women’s race in her new PB of 2:27:46.

Komen 2:08:13 and Kosgei 2:27:46 take their first marathon victories in Venice

Lisbon, PortugalA fantastic battle between two Kenyans, defending champion Silas Sang and the 2009 World Marathon silver medallist Emmanuel Mutai, produced a course record in Lisbon. Helena Kirop, a late entry, took the women’s race ahead of a pair of Portuguese runners at the Vodafone Portugal Half Marathon. The 10th edition of the Portugal Half Marathon is an IAAF Gold Label Road Race. About 15,000 people crossed the Tagus river bridge (Vasco da Gama Bridge) in a mass race, which provided a strong winner, Silas Sang, who retained his Lisbon title. The 31-year-old produced a personal best of 1:00:20 to take the victory ahead of his fellow countryman Mutai, the winner here in 2007, who clocked 1:00:44, also personal best. Both where together from 15 km, when Uganda’s Nicholas Kiprono (1:00:25 PB) fell behind them to finish third in 1:01:01. Until then, only Uganda’s Dickson Marwa (1:01:18 at the finish line) tried to run with the leaders, something that Kenyan Joel Kimurer managed only for the first 12 kilometres. Behind them, the “European” title went to Portuguese Rui Pedro Silva who crossed the finish line six seconds ahead of Spain’s Jose Manuel Martinez (1:02:36 PB). Three other Portuguese runners placed in the op-ten: Luís Feiteira, José Ramos and Manuel Damião. In the women race, three athletes ran together until the half-way point - Kenyans Florence Chepsoi, Magdaline Chemjor and Helena Kirop. The surprising Kirop, who was third this year at the Dubai Marathon, imposed her strong pace to cross the line in 1:10:26. Her finishing strength took the kick out of her countrywomen’s legs, with two Portuguese taking advantage. Finishing second with a PB 1:10:44 was Dulce Félix, who was13th in the 10,000m at this year’s World championships. Third went to Marisa Barros, the sixth place finisher this year in the World championship Marathon, who clocked 1:11:07. Two more Portuguese runners cracked the top-10. Russian Olga Glok, 2007 Istanbul Marathon winner (69:58), was only a distant ninth (1:17.45). Tsegay Kebede of Ethiopia, the men’s World Marathon bronze medallist, and his compatriot Wude Ayalew, the women’s 10,000m bronze medallist in Berlin, were unable to race. Kebede withdrew due to a health problem and Ayalew because she was unable to get a visa. António Manuel Fernandes for the IAAF Leading Results: Men - &nbsp;1. Silas Sang (KEN) 1:00.20 &nbsp;2. Emmanuel Mutai (KEN) 1:00.39 &nbsp;3. Nicholas Kiprono (UGA) 1:01.01 &nbsp;4. Dickson Marwa (TAN) 1:01.18 &nbsp;5. Joel Kimurer (KEN) 1:03.28 &nbsp;6. Rui Pedro Silva (POR) 1:03.33 &nbsp;7. Chema Martinez (ESP) 1:03.39 &nbsp;8. Luís Feiteira (POR) 1:03.43 &nbsp;9. José Ramos (POR) 1:04.06 10. Manuel Damião (POR) 1:04.18 Women - &nbsp;1. Helena Kirop (KEN) 1:10.26 &nbsp;2. Dulce Félix (POR) 1:10.44 &nbsp;3. Marisa Barros (POR) 1:11.07 &nbsp;4. Magdaline Chemjor (KEN) 1:11.55 &nbsp;5. Florence Chepsoi (KEN) 1:13.20 &nbsp;6. Leonor Carneiro (POR) 1:14.26 &nbsp;7. Berkinesh Shiferaw (ETH) 1:14.48 &nbsp;8. Mónica Rosa (POR) 1:16.00 &nbsp;9. Olga Glok (RUS) 1:17.45 10. Elisabete Lopes (POR) 1:21:08

Lisbon, Portugal – A fantastic battle between two Kenyans, defending champion Silas Sang and the 2009 World Marathon silver medallist Emmanuel Mutai, produced a course record in Lisbon. Helena Kirop, a late entry, took the women’s race ahead of a pair of Portuguese runners at the Vodafone Portugal Half Marathon.